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Archive for the ‘Corporate Communication’ Category

Launch of our new nonprofit: GLOBAL SPARK!

Posted by Nancy Van Leuven, Ph.D. on August 6, 2012

New Nonprofit to Aid in Issues of Equity, Education, and Environment

(August 6, 2012)   Global Spark, a new nonprofit organization with three founders in California, Massachusetts, and Washington, is now working with higher education and other charitable groups.  And, as the first step of its soft launch, the organization’s website is now live: www.globalspark.org.

“After teaching and researching together as academics, we’ve formed Global Spark to help other groups that need hard and soft skills,” said Deniz Zeynep Leuenberger, Ph.D. and public administration faculty member at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. “And, with this launch, we’re also looking for other practitioners, scholars, and community members to help us offer a strong menu of services.”

Leuenberger is joined by Danielle Newton, M.F.A. and English faculty at Bellevue College, and Nancy Van Leuven, Ph.D. and Communication Studies faculty at Bridgewater State College.  Coming from three diverse fields, the three leaders have decades of successful non-profit, educational, and corporate experience in:

  • Strategic planning and capacity building
  • Marketing and communications
  • Grantwriting and fundraising
  • Program evaluation, data collection and analysis
  • Community development, outreach, and mentorship

“One of our first goals is to start sharing information, so we’re sending out a call to students and others who might like to be published on our blog,” says Newton.  “Our website offers many ‘spaces’ for people to discuss issues and for plans to move forward.”

Awaiting formal designation of its 501C3 status in early fall 2012, the organization is already working with American Indian tribal colleges as well as educational and charitable organizations in China, the United Arab Emirates, and across the United States of America.  For instance, the group is aiding with food security initiatives in tribal colleges such as the Oneida Nation’s exemplary program.

“We are also a landing space for resources such as fact sheets and links for others,” Van Leuven noted.  “Right now, groups can find how-to tools for grants development, marketing, and organizational planning.”

For more information, contact Global Spark at globalspark3@gmail.com, via Twitter  (@Global_Spark), and Facebook.

Posted in Corporate Communication, Corporate Social Responsibility, Development, Marketing, Public Administration, Social media, Sustainability | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Sustainability screenage and me!

Posted by Nancy Van Leuven, Ph.D. on June 5, 2012

Consider me PUMPED!   Next Wednesday, June 13, I’ll be the featured speaker for a discussion via Telepresence with employees of the U.S. General Services Administration.  And let me tell you: It’s exciting to step outside the higher ed bubble of free and low-cost technologies (such as Voicethread) and experience how larger public and private groups are reducing carbon footprints while having conversations in the cloud.  Here’s the abstract, and if you have any thoughts to add, I’d love to include them!

From Conservation to Ecology to Sustainability — A Brief History of the Global Conversation

The shift from a top-down view of the natural world to a consensus view has changed the way we think about the planet and how we define and discuss the environment, with conversations now tied to poverty, equity, governance and business in ways that were unimaginable just a few short decades ago.

Research shows that in recent years, public policies and messages about sustainability have shifted from normative, top-down mandates to more “democratic,” horizontally-derived and consensus-driven discussions.  The discourse about environmental issues has switched from a focus on programming (such as recycling and conservation) to more complex debates about the scientific process, how we know what’s happening in complicated natural systems, and how we should respond to known and suspected ecological dynamics.

How we talk about (and reimagine) natural systems matters and the mental models we use certainly influence how we respond to changes in global conditions.  From the conservation efforts of the early 20th century, to the ecological movements of 1970’s through today’s sustainability initiatives, this session will cover a brief history of humanity’s relationship to the environment as it conversations continually to adapt to meet cycles of awareness, scientific discovery and public debate.  Specifically, we will focus on identifying case studies for sustainability, best practices and strategies for culture and leadership change, and an interactive Q and A session to share ideas and next steps.

Posted in Corporate Communication, Development, Public Administration, Sustainability | Leave a Comment »

DEBUTS: TED Conversation and Fortune 100’s social media usage

Posted by Nancy Van Leuven, Ph.D. on February 17, 2011

The Twitterverse is abuzz today about Ted Conversations, a Quora-like platform to ideate, question, and debate.    Just five years ago, expertise was top dog; today, it’s all about engagement and social discussion platforms.  On a separate note, check out this Mashable blurb — 10 things you need  to know about Fortune 100’s use of social media — as proof of companies moving from top-down, broadcast into narrowcast communication.

Posted in Corporate Communication, Marketing, Social media | Leave a Comment »

Walmart’s Emerging Role in Sustainability Consulting

Posted by Nancy Van Leuven, Ph.D. on April 2, 2010

Posted in Corporate Communication, CSR, Public Relations | Leave a Comment »

Tiger, Toyota, and relevance

Posted by Nancy Van Leuven, Ph.D. on February 27, 2010

A student recently asked why our class was spending so much time on these particular case studies; after all, do I really think THEY would encounter such crises?

Well, yes.  We may not face the woes (or have the deep pockets) of billion-dollar industries, but we’re one misstep away from having to tell our story, possibly apologize, and plan for a better future.  If we walk in this world, we are constantly deciding about issues of transparency and accountability, don’t you think?  So…why NOT plan for our credibility and reputation?

Three recent  tweets and posts include:  This from a New York corporate crisis and PR commentator in the Huffington Post <—my favorite.  “With bad news, the best move is to own up and apologize, the sooner the better,” says this business blogger.  “Think: would you rather be post-Watergate Nixon or post-sex scandal David Letterman? Only one of them was forthright, self-deprecating, honest and contrite about it.”

Whether Tiger restores his brand or becomes Barry Bonds has yet to be seen.  But his road to recovery — whether it’s on Oprah’s chair or out on a boat with buddies — is food for thought.  Sometimes just saying “I’m sorry” as soon as you realize your blunder goes a long way.  And that’s why we study such current cases,  to find a common language and also possibly help us determine our own path.

Posted in Corporate Communication, Corporate Social Responsibility, Media relations, Public Relations, Social media | Leave a Comment »

Welcome to FALL 09!

Posted by Nancy Van Leuven, Ph.D. on June 13, 2009

Dr. VL What a great semester this is!  Together, we’ll explore great communication subjects within a framework of social justice, sustainability, and social media. 

Good to know ASAP:  How social media is changing communication:   Making History w/cell phones, twitter, facebook

Posted in Corporate Communication, Corporate Social Responsibility, Media relations, Public Relations, Social media | Leave a Comment »